More Video Proof that We're Moving in the Right Direction

Hat Tip David Warlick @ 2 cents worth:

What if? A question we should all ask.

Hat tip to Darren Draper:

MIT OpenCourseWare Now Ready for HS Teachers

Hat tip to Dangerously Irrelevant:

The MIT OpenCourseWare initiative has repackaged many of its materials for secondary teachers and students. The Highlights for High School web site includes more than 2,600 video and audio clips as well as assignments and lecture notes. Read more at Education Week about this new resource.

Worth a look!!

Two Million Minutes - A Must See

I you haven't heard talk of this film yet, you will soon. Check out the trailer right here, then visit the website. Buy it and show it to everyone you know.

The Website - click here.

Here's the trailer:

2008 Innovation Generation Grants

Looks like a great opportunity for science teachers:

2008 Innovation Generation Grants

Application deadline: 1 March 2008
In 2008, the Motorola Foundation will provide US$4 million in Innovation Generation Grants to organizations that engage U.S. K-12 students and teachers in innovation, science, technology, engineering and math.

Applicants should consider the following criteria:
• Funding priority will be placed on pioneering programs that:
— Engage students and teachers in innovative, hands-on ways
— Teach innovation and creative problem-solving skills
— Focus on girls and underrepresented minorities
— Engage Motorola employees as volunteers
— Take place in communities where Motorola has an employee presence in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas
— Demonstrate measurable outcomes
— Are less than two years old

• Grant applicants may request up to $100,000. Select organizations may be asked to apply for larger grants.
• Grants will be for one year of project work, starting after June 2008.
• Any U.S. non-profit organization may apply. Schools and school districts may apply.
• At least 25% of total grant dollars will support new programming that has been operating for less than two years and is not simply an expansion of an existing program.
• Returning 2007 Innovation Generation Grant recipients must demonstrate that they have created new STEM partnerships with business, another non-profit organization or another foundation.

Apply online by 1 March 2008. Returning Innovation Generation Grant recipients also can apply through the Innovation Generation Network portal.

Should we pay more attention to technology? Kid's know the answer.

Check out this great video from the folks at The Friday Institute:

http://www.fi.ncsu.edu/initiatives/havingoursay/video.html (hat tip: Dangerously Irrelevant)

Let me know what you think.

Now Wikis Made Simple

Here's an explanation in "Plain English" on the use of Wikis (again by CommonCraft.com), another great piece of technology for the classroom. I have not used wikis yet with my classes, but there are activities that I'm planning that will include wikis.

Blogging for Dummies

Here's a good intro into blogging (produced by CommonCraft.com) that I found while cruising around. I've been using blogs with my 6th and 7th graders this year, and they seem to enjoy the process.



If you have any questions about my experiences using this exciting technology, please ask!!

An Interesting View of the Past, Present, and Future

Here is a trio of thought-provoking presentations put together by Karl Fisch (The Fischbowl). I encourage you to checkout his blog. As I began this year, I knew that I wanted to incorporate blogging into my course curriculum. I've finally found teachers that are also engaged with this valuable technology. You'll find links to course blogs at The Fischbowl. You can also checkout my class blogs - linked over to the right.

Here are the presentations (click on the titles to access the related blog posts):


What if? (Past)



Did you know? (Present)



2020 Vision (Future)



I hope you enjoyed these clips as much as I did. I think we should all consider how we are doing things, and if our methods need some adjustment.